SANTA ANA – Holding signs that say Mexican officials and their people are corrupt, members of Latino Americans for Immigration Reform rallied in front of the Mexican Consulate this morning – one of several rallies that began after media reports of suspected corruption at a consular office in Texas.

“I do believe the same thing that’s happened in Dallas is the same thing happening here,” said Lupe Moreno, president of the anti-illegal immigration organization.

The Mexican Consulate’s press officer was not immediately available for comment.

About 10 people showed up to a 7 a.m. protest in front of the Mexican Consulate’s office in Santa Ana.

The first protest was Aug. 22, after the Dallas Morning News reported that Mexican leaders in Dallas had called for a national investigation of Mexican consulates across the United States.

The announcement came in the wake of an investigation into suspected financial irregularities at the consulate in Dallas, according to the news report, which cited Mexican officials.

The investigation triggered the pending departure of Consul General Enrique Hubbard who took over the Dallas position more than two years ago, according to the report.

Mexican officials are investigating a suspected passport scheme that over a seven-year period robbed the Mexican government of tens of thousands of dollars in fees, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Moreno, whose organization has about 50 members, said the corruption allegations in Dallas add more fodder to calling for an end to illegal immigration.

“If the government is corrupt, the infrastructure is corrupt,” Moreno said. “The people are corrupt, too, and they bring their corruption with them. If they weren’t corrupt they wouldn’t be here illegally.”

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.